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Sunday, 1 February 2015

Simple Living Challenge - Day 5

Day 5 of the Kindspring Simple Living Challenge was to 'do something you have been putting off'.

The difficult part of this challenge was that there were so many things to choose from. After weighing up all the options I walked past the fridge that needed cleaning, bookshelves waiting for a good old sort out, the unruly porch (that all winter has been busy accumulating items that don't belong in it), and various corners of the dormant garden that are crying out for a tidy up.

Instead I got out my bicycle.

A while ago I blogged about Corsham's community bike workshop, Spindles and Sprockets. They were about to lose their home in the old community centre. Unfortunately there has been no happy ending to their story. The community centre was demolished and the new community campus is open. The campus is a good resource, with its leisure centre, library, cafe, the local police officers in residence and meeting rooms for hire. Sadly there's no room there for Spindles with all its bikes, parts, equipment and oiliness. And it seems that for the moment, despite investigating every possible empty space in the vicinty, and liaising with local councillors, there's nowhere else to be found either.

Whilst the group haven't got a space to work in, they have been keeping the flame alight over the winter by going for a weekly ride every Saturday morning.

I've been meaning to join them for ages, but have put it off forever, mostly because I'm not a fast cyclist and suspected I'd be well out of my league. Spindles by name and spindles by nature - there are some keen, lean, spindly, fast cyclists in the group. A wintry but sunny Saturday morning beckoned last weekend, however, and with Day 5's challenge in mind I got on my bike. We all enjoyed a 20 mile ride out to Holt for a coffee stop, and then home via Monkton Farleigh and Chapel Plaister. This route offers some spectacular views across Wiltshire. In some respects my worst fears were realised - I was waaay slower than the others - but I still enjoyed myself. Many thanks to my support crew (Husband and Son) for sticking with me until the end!

As with the previous Simple Living Challenges, this 'doing things you've been putting off' exercise is one to come back to again (and again and again), especially for a world class procrastinator, like me.

That sounds lovely and much better to choose an enjoyable and encouraging task to tackle. I am going to procrastinate about the things I have procrastinated for, for a few more days yet, whilst I finish off a project. but I must admit this excuse is starting to sound lamer and lamer!

I'm sorry to hear about Spindles and Sprockets however I am sure that something will turn up if the group keep looking. Brave you on a bike and of course you will only get faster the more you keep cycling!